The Hero Giannis Davaris-Final
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NATIONALITY American-Hellenic Foundation EUROPEAN ART CENTER ROOMS of Western Pennsylvania OF GREECE “Giannis Davaris A Revolutionary Hero at the Acropolis” Ηonorary messages: v Metropolitan Athanasius of Cyrene (Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa) v Dimitris Iliopoulos, Ambassador (ad.hon.) (Principal Advisor European External Action Service) v The Regional Vice Governor of Eastern Attica, Mr. Athanasius Avgerinos v The Mayor of Paeanea, Mr. Isidore Madis Curator Evangelos Andreou Acc. H.C. of Accademia Collegio de’ Nobili di Firenze Chairman of European Art Center (EUARCE) of Greece Maternal grandson (fifth generation) of Giannis Davaris “Giannis Davaris”, portrait of hero by the painter Amalia (Paraskevopoulos) Greetings from His Eminence Metropolitan Athanasios, Holy Metropolis of Cyrene, Patriarchate of Alexandria At classic times, a Greek philosopher has once stated that a nation which forgets its history, is a nation without a future. This significant truth acquires even greater importance in the case of nations with such rich historical depth dating since 4000 years ago. This span of time is characterized by many noble principles including empathy for the human being, but primarily by the love for freedom. Throughout this era we witness a frequent manifestation of this heartfelt objective always at great cost of human losses and destruction by barbarous invaders. It is in this perspective and having suffered four hundred years of brutal occupation, the Greek nation has risen 200 hundred years ago against the Ottoman occupiers, to create the modern Greek state after almost ten years of bloody and extremely violent revolt. It is no surprise that the slogan of the insurgents was Future or Death. And many were those that sacrificed their lives and the one of their families truly attached to their revolutionary oath. This uneven struggle has moved many friends of the Greek nation, known as the philellens. Many Americans chose to join the struggle and many among them gave their lives to this noble goal alongside the Greek freedom fighters. And they certainly contributed to the successful outcome of this gigantic and heroic endeavor. The example set by those heroes inspired other Balkan Nations who eventually started seeking their liberation from the Ottoman yoke. Thus, it is with great pride that the Greek Nation reminiscent of its glorious struggle for freedom and national emancipation is celebrating the Revolution since 200 years ago and sharing their rightful joy with the friendly American nation who generously supported their cause and later received them with hospitality in their quest for a better life in the New World. Pittsburg figures high in this action and the Greek Americans proudly share this memorable celebration of freedom which serves as a beacon to all progressive Nations in the world. Long live the Greek American friendship! Athens, January 22, 2021 Dimitris N. Iliopoulos Ambassador (ret), President of the Association of the retired Greek Diplomats, Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, former Principal Advisor of the European External Action Service, member of the Board of the Hellenic Institute for Strategic Studies, Research Associate of the ELIAMEP, Mentor of ALLILON International Network Greetings from Mr. Athanasios Avgerinos Vice-Prefect of Attica, Greece Greetings from Mr. Evangelos Andreou, Maternal grandson of Giannis-Stavrou Davaris (fifth generation) Following the fall of Messolonghi in western Greece, Athens and the Acropolis remained the only strongholds in Greek hands in mainland Greece outside the Peloponnese. Consequently, after his victory at Messolonghi, the Ottoman commander-in-chief, Reşid Mehmed Pasha, turned against Athens. The siege began in August 1826. The beleaguered Greeks were resupplied and reinforced by small detachments sent through the Ottoman lines by the main Greek army, under Georgios Karaiskakis, which had established itself around Eleusis, Piraeus and Phaleron to the south of Athens. The Greeks launched various attacks against the Ottoman army's rear and its supply lines, most notably the victory at the Battle of Arachova in November ; this strategy was altered in favour of direct attacks on the Ottoman army, resulting in the Battle of Kamatero in February. The command was transferred from Karaiskakis to the British general Richard Church in April. The Ottoman victory at Phaleron (Analatos) on 24 April (Julian) 1827 ended any possibility for relief, and the Acropolis garrison surrendered a month later. Nevertheless, a number of families in the Attica region banded together and began a series of campaigns against the Ottoman Turks. On the 1st of July 1826, the Ottoman Turks entered the Mesogaia region of Attica. There, at the town of Liopesi they encountered severe resistance and stopped their march. The inhabitants, under the leadership of the Davaris family, following a vicious battle, ran for protection inside the Citadel of Athens (at the foothill of the Acropolis). General Makrygiannis, in his memoirs, writes “Those besieged were naked and unhappy. The burnt-out Davaris with his many compatriots came to be slaughtered along with his villagers who carried all the oxen and linen of their homes, dressing and feeding their unhappy Athenians with whom they were competing, from the very beginning, for the claim to the misfortunes of the homeland”. Giannis Davaris participated, in spite of the siege, with his band of 60 revolutionaries, in a number of Guerilla campaigns outside of the Citadel against the Ottoman Turks. It is worth noting that only those from the Mesogaia region chose to find refuge in, and fight from the Citadel of Athens. The rest of the revolutionaries from Attica chose to continue their battles alongside Giorgios Karaiskakis and his campaigns. As a consequence, few armed resistors remained in Mesogaia by July of 1826. In his memoirs, the Athenian revolutionary, N. Karoris, writes “on the 6th of July, entire families were seized at villages of Mesogaia. On the 9th of July, a young maiden from Mesogaia arrives as a refugee fleeing captivity from Chalandri. The cavalry of the enemy comes and goes and pillages Mesogaia. On the 10th of July, after three days, the cavalry came again after apparently being tied in campaign in Mesogaia”. The Davaris Family of Revolutionary Heroes Giannis Stavrou Davaris. Revolutionary in Liopesi Attica (1775-1832) who was a member of the secret “Philike Hetaireia”. He prepared the inhabitants of the Mesogaia region of Attica under his leadership as well as that of other revolutionary leaders of Attica to conduct the first siege of Athens (April 1821). He continued to fight under the leadership of Odysseas Androutsos and then under Ioannis Gouras, until 1827. Following the capture of Athens by the Ottoman Turks in 1827, Davaris fled to the Saronic islands (Salamina, Aigina, Poros and Spetses) where he passed away, unable to see his country liberated. Anagnostis Giannis Davaris (1799-1866). Nephew of Giannis Stavrou Davaris and son of the priest Nikolaos Davaris and a revolutionary leader of Liopesi, Attica. He fought alongside his uncle beginning in 1821, Odysseas Androutsos and Ioannis Gouras and eventually succeeded his uncle as revolutionary leader of the inhabitants of Mesogaia, Attica (1823-1824). He fought bravely at the siege of Athens (August 1826-May 1827) where he was wounded in battle. Following the capture of Athens by the Ottoman Turks he fled together with his uncle (see above). He returned to Athens in 1831 (or 1832) and lived until his older years in Liopesi. He served as mayor of Kropia (1842-1846) and participated in the preparation of the Revolution of the 3rd of September 1843. For his services to the nation of Greece he was awarded the Silver Excellence Medal for Service in the Revolution (1844). He served as an officer the anti-robbery force of Attica (1852) and he also visited the holy sites of Jerusalem in 1861. He passed away in December 1, 1866. Giannis Constantinou Davaris (grandson of Giannis Stavrou Davaris) Statue of Giannis Stavrou Davaris Installed at the central Square of Peania, Attica The base reads: “Giannis Davaris of Liopesi War Leader of Mesogeites in the Revolution of 1821 Those who Fall Defending the Nation Never Die for the Entire Earth Holds their Reknown” “The Siege of the Acropolis” Scene from the Greek War of Independence. Painting by Panagiotis Zografos, under guidance of General Giannis Makriyannis. 1827: The leaders of the Siege of Athens: Gouras, Efmorfopoulos, Katzikgiannaioi, Fokaioi, Papakostas, Davaraioi, Litzas, Lagoumtizis, Symeon Zaharitzas, Neroutzos, Kapsorrachis, Danilis, Dimogerontes, S. Zaharitzas, Vlachos Stavris, N. Karoris, Serapheim, Sourmelis, General Makrygiannis and other heads of households. The Athenians and part of Gouras’ warriors guarded the outside of the Acropolis while the Davaraioi held the area from the first door of the citadel to the village of Liontarion. -From the memoirs of General Makrygiannis “Various Battles In Eastern Greece” Scene from the Greek War of Independence. Painting by Panagiotis Zografos, under guidance of General Giannis Makriyannis. Different Battles in Eastern Greece: Notable are the following clergy, monks, rebel leaders, and other revolutionary fighters and their families of battles at Karystos, Athens, Thebes Talantiou, Salona, Lidoriki who valiantly fought and fell – Logothetaioi, Zacharitzaoi, Vlachaioi, Alexandraioi, Batziakatzaioi, Sarraioi, Benitzelides, Karoraioi, Skouzedes, Mpouzikides,